Washington, D.C. — Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, released the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV):
Harry Reid was a giant of the Senate, but his stature was not measured by longevity of service or the personal power he accrued. Sen. Reid stood pound for pound above others because he worked every day to craft legislation that would transform the lives of Americans most in need of champions. As majority leader, he oversaw passage of the most sweeping progressive advancements the nation has realized in generations—including the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and the repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell—among many others. He never lost his boxer’s instincts and never lost sight of who he was fighting for as he answered the call, round after round.
As we mourn his passing and reflect on the challenges we face right now, it is on all of us to emulate his unending commitment to building a more just nation.
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